But he said: “Surgeons are using the same evidence with the same quality issues that underpinned mesh in prolapse to say everything is alright with incontinence mesh.

“It is the same issues; lack of Equivalence, trials done by manufacturers, lack of long term evidence and the losses to follow up which are high.”

The company told Panorama: “While we empathise with those who have experienced complications, the vast majority of women with pelvic mesh see an improvement in their day to day lives.”

Dr Cardozo, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “You cannot operate without complications occurring in a small minority of cases. You are never aware of complications that may occur years later and that doesn’t just occur with these tapes and meshes.”

Ethicon says pelvic mesh has helped improve the quality of life for millions of women with serious, debilitating conditions.

The MHRA, the UK medical devices regulator, told Panorama it recognises some women develop serious complications, and many women gain benefit from these surgical procedures.